VASCO
Mormugao Taluka, once known for its smooth connectivity, is now grappling with severely damaged roads, leaving residents and commuters frustrated.
The roads across Mormugao Taluka, once a lifeline for residents and commuters, have now become a source of daily frustration and inconvenience. Widespread damage caused by heavy vehicle movement and large-scale development projects has left large parts of the region’s road network in shambles.
While parts of the Mormugao constituency still offer decent travel conditions, the situation in the Vasco, Dabolim, and Cortalim constituencies has reached alarming levels. Ongoing development works, coupled with the movement of heavy vehicles, have further exacerbated the condition of roads in the region.
Vasco: Maze of dug-up roads
The once-bustling city of Vasco is now characterised by stretches of roads dug up.
Vasco has turned into a maze of dug roads due to the simultaneous laying of underground electrical cables and water pipelines, converting the city into a construction site. While there has been a steady pace of work, it has come at a cost for both commuters and local businesses.
Residents complain of unbearable travel conditions, while shopkeepers, eateries, and hotels suffer from persistent dust pollution. Access to some establishments is completely blocked due to digging on both sides of the road.
Acknowledging the hardships, Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar apologised to residents, requesting their patience.
"We are undertaking underground cabling and water pipeline works in phases. Vasco has lagged behind in development for years, and we are starting from scratch. Electricity works will be completed in a few months, after which we will repair footpaths and roads. Vasco will soon get a revamped facelift, but we need people to bear with us for some time,” requested Salkar.
Dabolim: Highway works bring chaos
The four-lane highway between Vales Junction and MES College in Dabolim has become a nightmare for motorists. Massive construction work is underway to build a flyover connecting Airport Road and Verna. This has turned the busy four-lane highway into a single-lane stretch, creating severe congestion and increasing the risk of accidents.
"Navigating the highway has become a cautious affair. Heavy traffic flow on a single lane, coupled with dust and mud from construction, makes driving hazardous," complained a motorist.
Transport Minister and Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho had earlier announced a huge flyover project and defended the inconvenience, emphasising the long-term benefits of the project.
"The Rs 650-crore flyover project will start in phases. The first phase will be between Dabolim and Queeny Nagar and will decongest roads and junctions, ensuring smooth traffic flow and reducing accidents," Godinho had previously stated.
Cortalim: Village roads in ruins
In Cortalim, roads in Queeny Nagar and connecting villages like Velsao and Cansaulim have been destroyed and deteriorated drastically. Expansion work for a flyover has left the existing MDR road in shambles, prompting large-scale protests by locals and shopkeepers.
Some residents have accused the NHAI of destroying a 69-year-old PWD road, causing severe disruptions which has been rendered unusable.
Intervention by Cortalim MLA Anton Vas led to an assurance from the PWD to restore the damaged roads. For now, two-wheelers have been granted temporary access, however, dust pollution continues to plague the area after the abrupt excavation of existing tarred roads by the NHAI.
Residents across Mormugao taluka are raising questions about the lack of coordination and planning between government agencies. While the development projects promise long-term benefits, the immediate impact on daily life has been severe.
Persistent dust from construction works, Traffic congestion due to narrowed roads and diversions, especially during peak hours and access blocked to businesses and homes near construction sites are some of the many public grievances and frustrations.
While residents and authorities agree that the current hardship will eventually lead to progress, the pressing need for better planning, timely restoration, and effective management cannot be ignored. For now, the people of Mormugao taluka wait in hope, enduring various inconveniences for a promise of a better tomorrow.
